Renata’s Top 10 Ways to Cope with Depression

RENATA’S TEN WAYS TO COPE WITH DEPRESSION

This is a modified post of some time ago. I wanted to add a disclaimer. I’m no expert, and I’m not trying to give any medical advice. These are methods I use that help me cope. Perhaps some of them might help you too.

Have brunch with good friends and listen to someone funny (like Billy) tell stories

Avoid negative people — if this includes your spouse, you might want to consider therapy or a divorce

Watch funny movies–this is, of course, purely a matter of personal preference. I’m ashamed to admit it, but when I was in my 30’s, I liked Jerry Lewis movies. I know. It’s sad. Now I like off-beat, indy comedies, although they can be slowwww at times. By the way, has anyone else noticed that Netflix and Amazon put just about every movie in the comedy section, including movies that are definitely not comedies. For instance, Netflix calls The Silver Linings Playbook a comedy. That was not a comedy. I like stupid stuff too, but smart stupid stuff, not stupid stupid stuff like Anchorman 2. That movie was moronic, and I don’t mean it in a good way. It had a few good moments, but not much more.

Listen to your favorite upbeat music in the car and sing to it, no matter how bad you are– to no one’s surprise, I listen to Elton John almost exclusively. I know that’s bad, I should broaden my musical taste. It’s just that his early stuff really gets the endorphins hopping.

Get a dog or cat–I have two terrier-mix mutts who think they are doing me a favor when I get into my own bed. On the other hand, they are the only ones who greet me at the door when I come home, ridiculously happy to see me even though it’s only been a few hours.

Laugh as many times per day as possible–see number 3 above. A good dirty joke does the trick too. But only if it’s smart funny, not stupid funny. Any joke that involves someone farting is not a smart funny joke; it belongs in the latter category.

Take a walk (with your dog if you have one) outside every day– I have trouble doing this one if the weather is too hot or too cold. I’m a wuss, unless I’m on a hike, and then I’ll hike through anything. That’s because once I’m out there, I have no choice but to keep walking if I want to get home. But at home, the house is so warm and it’s so cold outside; it’s real easy to just stay inside and say to hell with it.

See your therapist. You must do this. Don’t try to go it alone. You wouldn’t set your own broken leg, would you? Let the experts handle this. It gets painful sometimes talking about bad memories, but it has to be done.

Take your medication–my personal favorite. I’m taking so many now that my bathroom looks like a scene from The Valley of the Dolls.

Have faith in a higher power that things will get better–this one takes practice; I have to remind myself sometimes that I don’t have to do this alone.

Prayer may be the most important, and most potent, tool you can use. I know a lot of people denigrate praying, but I think it works. And even if it doesn’t, what does it hurt if it makes you feel better?

Let’s face it; none of us knows what happens after we die. We think we do if we have a certain faith. But so far, no one has come back to tell us definitively what happens.

Those “out of body” experience? Those are dreams. Why is it that when a Christian dies, he sees Angels, and yet people of other faiths see whatever person or thing that represents their particular faith? That “floating around the room” and watching what’s going on phenomena? I’ve had that happen to me when I’ve been deliriously sick. I love that floating feeling. Or maybe that’s the codeine. Either way, it’s good.

If anyone has had an experience with death, or rather, near death, that they would like to share, please do so in the comments. I want to hear about them. I’m keeping an open mind about this, but I need a little more evidence before I commit.